Beverage Company: Excessive, Inefficient Water Use

Based on the high demand during the summer season, a beverage company in Andhra Pradesh, India wishes to expand its capacity by about 30 percent. As per the regulatory requirements, the company is required to have the necessary environmental permits to expand and operate from the State (provincial) Pollution Control Board (PCB). However, as the region is already experiencing severe water shortage, the PCB is not willing to provide the “consent to establish” (permit for expansion). After repeated attempts, the company is granted a conditional permit allowing it to expand its capacity by 30 percent, provided there is no additional fresh water withdrawal.

Impact

Depletion of local water resources (ground and surface water)

Avoid

Develop water balance for specific processes and estimate consumptive and non-con­sumptive water usage

Benchmark water use against industry standards

Identify and prevent all water losses, including pilferage, transmission losses due to seepage (exfiltration), leakage, evaporation, etc. and inefficient/unnecessary water usage in various processes

Plan and implement water conservation awareness and training program for workers, supervisors and managers

Offset

Engage in active consultation with local communities, regulators and NGOs to address water concerns in the region

Participate in and promote Integrated Water Resources Management processes in the region

Develop and implement rainwater harvesting programs

Reduce demand by others through adequately treating the industrial wastewater and finding alternative applications for the treated wastewater (e.g. irrigation, horticulture or as raw water resource for other local industry or potable water treatment plants)